Moving image reproducing apparatus and moving image reproducing method

ABSTRACT

A moving image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a moving image recorded on an optical disk includes a storage unit which stores a reproduction permissible level set with respect to a parental level and stores a reference level, a moving image reproducing unit which restricts reproduction of the moving image based on the reproduction permissible level, and a control unit which changes the reproduction permissible level. Preferably, when the reproduction permissible level is instructed to change to a level with restriction easier than the reference level and easier than the present reproduction permissible level, or when the reference level is instructed to change, the control unit requests to input a password, and when a particular input is done with respect to a body, the control unit changes the reproduction permissible level to a level with the hardest restriction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a moving image reproducing apparatuscapable of easily changing a parental level in the case of being at alevel with restriction harder than a reference level.

2. Description of the Related Art

Video software recorded on a DVD (optical disk) includes an extremeviolent scene or a love scene, etc. and these scenes may be unfavorablefor education of children. Thus, in a DVD player or the video softwarerecorded on the DVD, there was conventionally means for providing afunction of restricting video reproduced according to age of a viewer.That is, in a DVD on which the video software is recorded, there was aDVD in which a parental level (viewing age restriction level) is presetevery scene (chapter) according to contents of software. Also, in a DVDplayer, there was means for providing a parental locking functioncapable of controlling reproduction of video software every scene bycutting a scene which does not desire to be shown to a child andshifting to the next scene or exchanging for another scene based on aparental level preset in the video software and a reproductionpermissible level of a parental level preset by a manager of theapparatus at the time of reproducing video software recorded on a DVD.

In the DVD player in which the parental locking function is provided, aparental level can be switched to eight levels from a level 1 to a level8 in order to cope with systems of all the countries of the world. Forexample, in the United States of America, setting of the parental levelis associated with a rating system. That is, a parental level 7 is setto a level at which viewing of persons 17 years old and less is notadmitted (NC-17: No One 17 And Under Admitted). Also, a parental level 3is set to a level at which guidance is required from a guardian to achild (PG: Parental Guidance Suggested) since the contents which may beimproper to a small child are included. Further, a parental level 1 isset to a level recommended to general viewing audiences (G: GeneralAudiences).

Therefore, when a DVD in which a parental level is set is reproduced inthe DVD player having the parental locking function, reproduction couldbe performed while automatically cutting a scene which does not desireto be shown to a child even for software of an adult movie etc.

Also, in the conventional DVD player, at the time of changing a parentallevel, an input of a password was normally required so as not to easilychange setting of a parental level. Also, a disk reproducing apparatusin which a parental level can be changed individually by inputting IDand a password at the time of viewing video software and an input of amaster password of a manager is required at the time of setting orchanging a parental level has been proposed (See, for example,JP-A-2002-112181, Pages 3 to 5, FIGS. 1 to 5.).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the conventional DVD player, at the time of changing a parentallevel, a password must be inputted, so that there was a problem that theparental level cannot be changed speedily. For example, when a guardianviews DVD video together with a child in a state in which a parentallevel is set to a level 7, a violent scene etc. which do not desire tobe shown to the child are reproduced as they are. As a result of that,the guardian must speedily input a password in order to change areproduction permissible level of the parental level to a level such asa level 1 or a level 3 with hard restriction.

Also, when the parental level is returned to the original level afterthe parental level is changed to a level with hard restriction, therewas a problem that the parental level cannot be changed speedily. Forexample,when a guardian views another DVD video alone after a parentallevel is changed to a level with hard restriction in order to view DVDvideo together with a child, the guardian cannot change the parentallevel to the original level with easy restriction unless a password isinputted.

Thus, in the conventional disk reproducing apparatus, a password must beinputted every time a parental level is changed, and there was a problemthat the parental level cannot be changed speedily.

Therefore, in order to solve the problem, an object of the invention isto provide a moving image reproducing apparatus capable of speedilychanging a parental level in the case of being at a level withrestriction harder than a reference level.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a moving imagereproducing apparatus for reproducing a moving image recorded on anoptical disk includes a storage unit which stores a reproductionpermissible level set with respect to a parental level, a moving imagereproducing unit which restricts reproduction of the moving image basedon the reproduction permissible level, and a control unit which changesthe reproduction permissible level. Preferably, the storage unit furtherstores a reference level, when a first instruction to change thereproduction permissible level to a level with restriction harder thanthe reference level is issued the control unit changes the reproductionpermissible level according to the first instruction, when a secondinstruction to change the reproduction permissible level to a level withrestriction easier than the reference level the control unit requests toinput a password and when the password is inputted the control unitchanges the reproduction permissible level according to the secondinstruction, when a third instruction to change the reproductionpermissible level to a level with restriction harder than the presentreproduction permissible level and with restriction easier than thereference level is issued the control unit changes the reproductionpermissible level according to the third instruction, when a fourthinstruction to change the reference level is issued the control unitrequests to input a password and when the password is inputted thecontrol unit changes the reference level according to the fourthinstruction, and when a particular input is done with respect to a bodythe control unit changes the reproduction permissible level to a levelwith the hardest restriction.

In this configuration, a reproduction permissible level of a parentallevel which is a level for restricting reproduction of a moving imagerecorded on an optical disk can be changed to a level with restrictionharder than a reference level without inputting a password. Therefore,for example, when a scene which does not desire to be viewed to a childis reproduced while a guardian views a moving image together with thechild in a state in which the reproduction permissible level of theparental level is set to the reference level, this reproductionpermissible level can speedily be changed to a level with hardrestriction. Also, when only the guardian views a moving image after thereproduction permissible level is changed to the level with hardrestriction, the reproduction permissible level can speedily be returnedto the reference level.

In this configuration, in the case of changing a reproductionpermissible level to a level with restriction harder than the presentlevel even when a password is inputted and the reproduction permissiblelevel is changed to a level with restriction easier than a referencelevel, an input of a password is not required. Therefore, for example,in the case of reproducing a scene which does not desire to be viewed toa child even when a guardian views a moving image together with thechild while forgetting that the reproduction permissible level has beenchanged to the level with restriction easier than the reference level, arestriction level of the reproduction permissible level can speedily bemade hard.

In this configuration, an input of a password is always required when areference level is changed. Therefore, for example, a child can beprevented from changing the reference level at liberty when a guardianmanages the password.

In this configuration, a reproduction permissible level of a parentallevel can be changed to a level with the hardest restriction without aninput of a password. In a moving image reproducing apparatus, when thereproduction permissible level is set to the level with the hardestrestriction, reproduction of a scene which does not desire to be shownto a child can be prevented surely, so that, for example, when a scenewhich does not desire to be shown to the child is reproduced while aguardian views a moving image together with the child, reproduction ofits scene can be stopped speedily.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a moving imagereproducing apparatus for reproducing a moving image recorded on anoptical disk including a storage unit which stores a reproductionpermissible level set with respect to a parental level, a moving imagereproducing unit which restricts reproduction of the moving image basedon the reproduction permissible level, and a control unit which changesthe reproduction permissible level. Preferably, when a first instructionto change the reproduction permissible level to a level with restrictionharder than the present reproduction permissible level is issued thecontrol unit changes the reproduction permissible level according to thefirst instruction, and when a second instruction to change thereproduction permissible level to a level with restriction easier thanthe present reproduction permissible level the control unit requests toinput a password and when the password is inputted the control unitchanges the reproduction permissible level according to the secondinstruction.

In this configuration, when a parental level is changed to a level withrestriction easier than a reproduction permissible level at that pointin time, an input of a password is required, but when the parental levelis changed to a level with restriction harder than the reproductionpermissible level at that point in time, an input of a password is notrequired. As a result of this, a change can speedily be made when thereproduction permissible level of the parental level is changed to alevel with hard restriction.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a moving imagereproducing apparatus for reproducing a moving image recorded on anoptical disk including a storage unit which stores a reproductionpermissible level set with respect to a parental level, a moving imagereproducing unit which restricts reproduction of the moving image basedon the reproduction permissible level, and a control unit which changesthe reproduction permissible level. Preferably, the storage unit furtherstores a reference level, when a first instruction to change thereproduction permissible level to a level with restriction harder thanthe reference level is issued the control unit changes the reproductionpermissible level according to the first instruction, and when a secondinstruction to change the reproduction permissible level to a level withrestriction easier than the reference level the control unit requests toprocess an authentication and when the authentication is processed thecontrol unit changes the reproduction permissible level according to thesecond instruction.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a moving imagereproducing method for reproducing a moving image recorded on an opticaldisk including storing a reproduction permissible level set with respectto a parental level, and a reference level, when a first instruction tochange the reproduction permissible level to a level with restrictionharder than the reference level is issued changing the reproductionpermissible level according to the first instruction, when a secondinstruction to change the reproduction permissible level to a level withrestriction easier than the reference level requesting to input apassword and when the password is inputted changing the reproductionpermissible level according to the second instruction, when a thirdinstruction to change the reproduction permissible level to a level withrestriction harder than the present reproduction permissible level andwith restriction easier than the reference level is issued changing thereproduction permissible level according to the third instruction, whena fourth instruction to change the reference level is issued requestingto input a password and when the password is inputted changing thereference level according to the fourth instruction, when a particularinput is done with respect to a body changing the reproductionpermissible level to a level with the hardest restriction, andrestricting reproduction of the moving image based on the reproductionpermissible level.

According to the invention, when a parental level is changed to a levelwith restriction harder than that of a level set at present, theparental level can be changed speedily without an input of a password.Also, by operating level sudden change unit, the parental level can bechanged to a level with the hardest restriction without an input of apassword.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a moving imagereproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing a setting action of a reference levelof a parental level in a DVD player according to the embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing a setting action of a reproductionpermissible level of a parental level in the DVD player according to theembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a moving imagereproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. A DVDplayer 1 which is the moving image reproducing apparatus reproduces aDVD 2 which is an optical disk, and outputs a video signal and an audiosignal to a monitor 3. Also, the DVD player 1 can control an action by aremote control device 4. Here, the DVD player 1 can also be configuredso that parental levels can be set respectively with respect to pluralusers as shown in a disk reproducing apparatus described inJP-A-2002-112181. However, in order to simplify description in thefollowing description, description will be made as the case that only apassword of a manager (guardian) can be set in the DVD player 1.

The DVD player 1 comprises a DVD reproducing part 11, a system controlpart 12, a display part 13, an operation part 14, a communication part15 and memory 16. The DVD reproducing part 11 applies laser light to arecord surface of the DVD 2 which is the optical disk, and reproducesvideo software (a moving image) recorded on the DVD 2, and outputs avideo signal and an audio signal to the monitor 3.

The system control part 12 controls an action of each the part of theDVD player 1 and also reads a reproduction permissible level of aparental level out of the memory 16, and performs control of selectionand switching, etc. of a chapter reproduced by the DVD reproducing part11 based on this reproduction permissible level.

The display part 13 displays information about a chapter or informationabout video software during reproduction. Also, the contents necessaryto notify a viewing audience are displayed.

The operation part 14 accepts various operations of the DVD player 1performed by a viewing audience, and outputs a signal corresponding tothe operation to the system control part 12. For example, the operationpart 14 accepts operations of instructions of reproduction and stop ofthe DVD 2 or instructions of a change of a parental level or an input ofa password and so on.

The communication part 15 is a unit for receiving an operation signalsent from the remote control device 4 and transmitting this operationsignal to the system control part 12.

Various setting etc. inputted from the operation part 14 are stored inthe memory 16. Also, a reference level or a reproduction permissiblelevel of a parental level set by a viewing audience is stored in thememory 16.

Here, the reproduction permissible level of the parental level is athreshold value for restricting a parental level at the time ofreproducing video software recorded on the DVD by the DVD player 1. Thatis, in the DVD player 1, when a parental level set in each chapter ofvideo software recorded on the DVD 2 is the same parental level or aparental level with restriction harder than the reproduction permissiblelevel, its chapter is reproduced. On the other hand, when the parentallevel set in each the chapter of the video software recorded on the DVD2 is a level with restriction easier than the reproduction permissiblelevel of the parental level, its chapter is not reproduced or analternative chapter is reproduced.

Also, the reference level of the parental level is a threshold value fordetermining the presence or absence of an input of a password at thetime of changing a parental level. That is, in the case of making achange to a reproduction permissible level with restriction harder thanthe reference level of the parental level at the time of changing theparental level, the DVD player 1 does not require an input of apassword. On the other hand, in the case of making a change to a levelwith restriction easier than the reference level of the parental levelat the time of changing the reproduction permissible level of theparental level, the DVD player 1 requires an input of a password. In theDVD player 1, the reference level of the parental level can be changedby inputting a password preset.

Next, an action of the DVD player 1 will be described. When the DVD 2 isset in a disk tray (not shown) and a reproduction operation of videosoftware recorded on the DVD 2 is performed by the operation part 14 orthe remote control device 4, the DVD player 1 checks whether or not aparental level is set in the video software recorded on the DVD 2. Whenthe parental level is not set in the DVD 2, the DVD player 1 reproducesa moving image as it is without imposing restriction, and outputs videoand audio data to the monitor 3.

On the other hand, when the parental level is set in the DVD 2, the DVDplayer 1 reads a reproduction permissible level of a parental level usedas a setting value for restricting reproduction of a moving imagerecorded on the DVD 2 out of the memory 16. Then, reproduction of achapter is controlled based on the reproduction permissible level of theparental level read out of the memory 16 and the parental level set inthe video software recorded on the DVD 2.

In the DVD player 1, the reproduction permissible level of the parentallevel can be changed to an arbitrary level in the case of being in therange from the reference level of the parental level to a parental level(level 1) with the hardest restriction. On the other hand, in the DVDplayer 1, in the case of being in the range from a level withrestriction easier than the reference level of the parental level to aparental level (level 8) with the easiest restriction, an input of apassword is required at the time of changing the reproductionpermissible level of the parental level. Also, in the DVD player 1, whenthe reproduction permissible level of the parental level is changed to alevel with hard restriction even in the case that the reproductionpermissible level is set to a level with restriction easier than thereference level of the parental level, an input of a password is notrequired.

For example, in the case that the present reproduction permissible leveland the reference level of the parental level are set to a level 4, whenthe DVD player 1 detects that an operation for changing the reproductionpermissible level to a level in the range from a level 1 to a level 4has been performed in the operation part 14, the reproductionpermissible level is changed without requesting an input of a password.On the other hand, when the DVD player 1 detects that an operation forchanging the reproduction permissible level to a level in the range froma level 5 to a level 8 has been performed in the operation part 14, aninput of a password is requested and when the password is not inputted,a change of the reproduction permissible level is not permitted. Also,in the case that the reference level of the parental level is set to alevel 4 and the present reproduction permissible level is set to a level7, when the DVD player 1 detects that an operation for changing thereproduction permissible level to a level in the range from a level 1 toa level 6 has been performed in the operation part 14, the reproductionpermissible level is changed without requesting an input of a password.

The DVD player 1 can set the reproduction permissible level of theparental level as described above, so that useful effect can be obtainedin the following situation. For example, when a scene which does notdesire to be shown to a child is reproduced while a guardian and thechild view video software recorded on the DVD in a state in which thereproduction permissible level of the parental level of the DVD player 1is set to a level 4 which is the reference level, an input of a passwordis not required, so that the guardian operates the operation part 14 orthe remote control device 4 and speedily changes the reproductionpermissible level of the parental level from the level 4 to a level (forexample, a level 2) with harder restriction and can change this scene toanother scene. Also, when a guardian returns the reproductionpermissible level of the parental level to the original level in orderto view the video software recorded on this DVD alone after thereproduction permissible level of the parental level is changed to alevel 2, the reproduction permissible level can be changed speedilywithout an input of a password. Further, even when a child attempts toview a DVD by changing setting of the parental level to a level withrestriction easier than the reference level in the case that a guardianis absent etc., an input of a password is required, so that thereproduction permissible level can be prevented from being changed atliberty. In addition, even when a guardian has inputted a password andhas changed the reproduction permissible level of the parental level toa level with easy restriction, the reproduction permissible level of theparental level can speedily be changed to a level with hard restrictionby operating the operation part 14.

Also, the operation part 14 and the remote control device 4 of the DVDplayer 1 of the invention comprise an emergency change switch 21 forchanging the reproduction permissible level of the parental level set atpresent to a level 1 which is a level with the hardest restriction. Aviewing audience can speedily change the reproduction permissible levelof the parental level to the level 1 which is the level with the hardestrestriction by operating the emergency change switch 21 during viewingof DVD video etc. By setting the DVD player 1 as described above, usefuleffect can be obtained in the following situation. For example, in theDVD player 1 in which the reproduction permissible level and thereference level of the parental level are set to a level 4, a scene suchas a violent scene unfavorable for a child may be reproduced while aguardian views DVD video in which the parental level is set togetherwith a child. In such a case, the guardian can speedily change theparental level to the level 1 which is the level with the hardestrestriction by operating the emergency change switch 21, so that thescene unfavorable for the child can be changed to another scene at once.Here, the reason why the parental level is changed to the level with thehardest restriction when the emergency change switch 21 is operated isbecause changing the parental level to the level 1 is most effective insurely stopping reproduction of a scene which does not desire to beshown to the child regardless of age of the child.

Incidentally, setting of the emergency change switch 21 is made so thatthe parental level is switched to the level with the hardest restrictionas described above, but a manager (guardian) can change setting of alevel to which the parental level is switched at the time of operationof the emergency change switch 21 by inputting a password. For example,setting can be changed so that the reproduction permissible level of theparental level is switched to a level 2 or a level 3, etc. when theemergency change switch 21 is operated. As a result of this, theguardian can speedily change the parental level to a level according toage of a child by operating the emergency change switch 21.

Also, in the case of being in the range to the reference level even whenthe emergency change switch 21 is operated to change the parental level,a viewing audience can change the parental level to a level with easyrestriction without an input of a password. Therefore, as shown in theexample described above, when viewing of a DVD is continued by only aguardian after the emergency change switch 21 is operated to change thereproduction permissible level from a level 4 to a level 1, the guardiancan easily change the parental level to the level 4 which is theoriginal reproduction permissible level.

Next, a setting action of the reproduction permissible level and thereference level of the parental level in the DVD player 1 will bedescribed based on a flowchart. FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing asetting action of the reference level of the parental level in the DVDplayer according to the embodiment of the invention. Incidentally, inthe DVD player 1, a password shall be preset by a manager.

First, when the operation part 14 of the DVD player 1 is operated and amode of setting a reference level of a parental level is selected, thesystem control part 12 performs display for prompting for an input of apassword on the display part 13 (s1). Then, the system control part 12waits until the password is inputted. When the system control part 12detects that the password is inputted from the operation part 14 (s2), apassword stored in the memory 16 is read out and the password inputtedfrom the operation part 14 is checked (s3). When the inputted passwordis incorrect, the system control part 12 performs display to the effectthat the password is incorrect on the display part 13 (s4), and theprocessing is ended.

On the other hand, when the inputted password is correct in step s3, thesystem control part 12 performs display for prompting for setting of thereference level of the parental level on the display part 13 (s5), andwaits until an input is done from the operation part 14. When the systemcontrol part 12 detects that the reference level is inputted from theoperation part 14 (s6), the reference level inputted from the operationpart 14 is stored in the memory 16. Also, the system control part 12sets the of the parental level to the reproduction permissible level andstores the reference level in the memory 16 (s7), and the processing isended.

Subsequently, a setting action of the reproduction permissible level ofthe parental level in the DVD player 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is aflowchart describing a setting action of the reproduction permissiblelevel of the parental level in the DVD player according to theembodiment of the invention. When the operation part 14 of the DVDplayer 1 is operated (s11) and a mode of setting a reproductionpermissible level of a parental level is selected (s12), the systemcontrol part 12 reads the present reproduction permissible level of theparental level out of the memory 16 and displays the reproductionpermissible level on the display part 13 (s13). Then, the system controlpart 12 waits until the reproduction permissible level of the parentallevel is inputted. When the system control part 12 detects that thereproduction permissible level is inputted from the operation part 14(s14), the inputted reproduction permissible level is compared with thepresent reproduction permissible level of the parental level and thereference level of the parental level (s15). When the reproductionpermissible level inputted from the operation part 14 is a level withrestriction harder than the reference level of the parental level (s16),the system control part 12 stores the level inputted from the operationpart 14 as the present reproduction permissible level in the memory 16(s21). Then, the processing is ended.

Also, when the reproduction permissible level inputted from theoperation part 14 is a level with restriction easier than the referencelevel of the parental level (s16) and is a level with restriction harderthan the present reproduction permissible level of the parental level(s17), the system control part 12 stores the level inputted from theoperation part 14 as the present reproduction permissible level in thememory 16 (s21). Then, the processing is ended.

On the other hand, when the reproduction permissible level inputted fromthe operation part 14 is a level with restriction easier than thereference level of the parental level (s16) and is a level withrestriction easier than the present reproduction permissible level ofthe parental level (s17), the system control part 12 performs displayfor prompting for an input of a password on the display part 13 (s18).Then, the system control part 12 waits until the password is inputtedfrom the operation part 14. When the system control part 12 detects thatthe password is inputted from the operation part 14 (s19), a passwordstored in the memory 16 is read out and the password inputted from theoperation part 14 is checked (s20). When the password inputted from theoperation part 14 is different from the password stored in the memory16, the control part 12 performs display to the effect that thereproduction permissible level of the parental level cannot be changedsince the password is incorrect on the display part 13 (s22), and theprocessing is ended.

On the other hand, when the password inputted from the operation part 14is correct, the system control part 12 stores the reproductionpermissible level previously inputted from the operation part 14 as thereproduction permissible level of the present parental level in thememory 16 (s21), and the processing is ended.

Also, when system control part 12 detects that the emergency changeswitch 21 of the operation part 14 is operated in step s12, thereproduction permissible level of the parental level is set to a level 1(s23), and the processing is ended.

Incidentally, in the DVD player 1, setting processing of thereproduction permissible level of the parental level described based onFIG. 3 can be performed regardless of whether or not the DVD 2 is beingreproduced.

Also, in the DVD player 1, the reference level is not provided and whenrestriction of the reproduction permissible level of the parental levelinputted is harder than that of the reproduction permissible level ofthe parental level set at present, setting could be made so that achange can be made without an input of a password. Also, whenrestriction of the reproduction permissible level of the parental levelinputted is easier than that of the reproduction permissible level ofthe parental level set at present, setting could be made so that achange cannot be made without an input of a password. As a result ofthis, a change can be made speedily when the reproduction permissiblelevel of the parental level is changed to a level with hard restriction.Also, a child can be prevented from changing the reproductionpermissible level to a level with easy restriction at liberty duringabsence of a guardian etc.

As described above, according to the invention, when a reproductionpermissible level of a parental level is changed to a level withrestriction harder than that of a level set at present, the parentallevel can be changed speedily without an input of a password. Also, byoperating an emergency change switch etc. and doing a particular inputto a body, a change can be made so as to reproduce a moving image of alevel with the hardest restriction by speedily changing the parentallevel to a level with the hardest restriction without an input of apassword.

1. A moving image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a moving imagerecorded on an optical disk, comprising: a storage unit which stores areproduction permissible level set with respect to a parental level; amoving image reproducing unit which restricts reproduction of the movingimage based on the reproduction permissible level; and a control unitwhich changes the reproduction permissible level, wherein the storageunit further stores a reference level, when a first instruction tochange the reproduction permissible level to a level with restrictionharder than the reference level is issued, the control unit changes thereproduction permissible level according to the first instruction, whena second instruction to change the reproduction permissible level to alevel with restriction easier than the reference level, the control unitrequests to input a password, and when the password is inputted, thecontrol unit changes the reproduction permissible level according to thesecond instruction, when a third instruction to change the reproductionpermissible level to a level with restriction harder than the presentreproduction permissible level and with restriction easier than thereference level is issued, the control unit changes the reproductionpermissible level according to the third instruction, when a fourthinstruction to change the reference level is issued, the control unitrequests to input a password, and when the password is inputted, thecontrol unit changes the reference level according to the fourthinstruction, and when a particular input is done with respect to a body,the control unit changes the reproduction permissible level to a levelwith the hardest restriction.
 2. A moving image reproducing apparatusfor reproducing a moving image recorded on an optical disk, comprising:a storage unit which stores a reproduction permissible level set withrespect to a parental level; a moving image reproducing unit whichrestricts reproduction of the moving image based on the reproductionpermissible level; and a control unit which changes the reproductionpermissible level, wherein the storage unit further stores a referencelevel, when a first instruction to change the reproduction permissiblelevel to a level with restriction harder than the reference level isissued, the control unit changes the reproduction permissible levelaccording to the first instruction, and when a second instruction tochange the reproduction permissible level to a level with restrictioneasier than the reference level, the control unit requests to process anauthentication, and when the authentication is processed, the controlunit changes the reproduction permissible level according to the secondinstruction.
 3. The moving image reproducing apparatus as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the authentication includes a password authentication.4. The moving image reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, whereinwhen a third instruction to change the reproduction permissible level toa level with restriction harder than the present reproductionpermissible level and with restriction easier than the reference levelis issued, the control unit changes the reproduction permissible levelaccording to the third instruction.
 5. The moving image reproducingapparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein when a fourth instruction tochange the reference level is issued, the control unit requests to inputa password, and when the password is inputted, the control unit changesthe reference level according to the fourth instruction.
 6. The movingimage reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein when a fourthinstruction to change the reference level is issued, the control unitrequests to input a password, and when the password is inputted, thecontrol unit changes the reference level according to the fourthinstruction.
 7. The moving image reproducing apparatus as claimed inclaim 3, wherein when a particular input is done with respect to a body,the control unit changes the reproduction permissible level to a levelwith the hardest restriction.
 8. The moving image reproducing apparatusas claimed in claim 4, wherein when a particular input is done withrespect to a body, the control unit changes the reproduction permissiblelevel to a level with the hardest restriction.
 9. The moving imagereproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein when a particularinput is done with respect to a body, the control unit changes thereproduction permissible level to a level with the hardest restriction.10. The moving image reproducing apparatus as claimed in claim 6,wherein when a particular input is done with respect to a body, thecontrol unit changes the reproduction permissible level to a level withthe hardest restriction.
 11. A moving image reproducing apparatus forreproducing a moving image recorded on an optical disk, comprising: astorage unit which stores a reproduction permissible level set withrespect to a parental level; a moving image reproducing unit whichrestricts reproduction of the moving image based on the reproductionpermissible level; and a control unit which changes the reproductionpermissible level, wherein when a first instruction to change thereproduction permissible level to a level with restriction harder thanthe present reproduction permissible level is issued, the control unitchanges the reproduction permissible level according to the firstinstruction, and when a second instruction to change the reproductionpermissible level to a level with restriction easier than the presentreproduction permissible level, the control unit requests to input apassword, and when the password is inputted, the control unit changesthe reproduction permissible level according to the second instruction.12. A moving image reproducing method for reproducing a moving imagerecorded on an optical disk, comprising: storing a reproductionpermissible level set with respect to a parental level, and a referencelevel; when a first instruction to change the reproduction permissiblelevel to a level with restriction harder than the reference level isissued, changing the reproduction permissible level according to thefirst instruction; when a second instruction to change the reproductionpermissible level to a level with restriction easier than the referencelevel, requesting to input a password, and when the password isinputted, changing the reproduction permissible level according to thesecond instruction; when a third instruction to change the reproductionpermissible level to a level with restriction harder than the presentreproduction permissible level and with restriction easier than thereference level is issued, changing the reproduction permissible levelaccording to the third instruction; when a fourth instruction to changethe reference level is issued, requesting to input a password, and whenthe password is inputted, changing the reference level according to thefourth instruction; when a particular input is done with respect to abody, changing the reproduction permissible level to a level with thehardest restriction; and restricting reproduction of the moving imagebased on the reproduction permissible level.